Fountain pen



Sept. 22, 1931. J. WALLACE FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Jul-y 51. 1930 INVENTOR.' 72, /fldc Patented Sept. 22, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH' WALLACE, OF UEDAREURST, NEW YORK FOUNTAIN PEN Application tiled July 31,

This invention relates to fountain pens and particularly to devices of this class of the stylus type and the object of the invention is to provide improved means for controllin the transmission of ink from the Well o the pen to the point thereof; a further object being to provide improved means for Ventilating the pen to control the feed of ink therefrom and also to facilitate the filling of the pen, said vent being in the form of a passage of such arran ement and form as to prevent a sudden disc arge of the ink therethrou h in certain uses of the pen; a 4further obJect being to provide a weighted plunger controlling and actuating the feed needle of the pen, and especially a weight of this class including a reserve ink chamber providing for an instantaneous feed of ink to the point and also to maintain a moist condition within the pointed end portion of the pen to prevent and obviate the hardening of the ink; a still further object being to provide an ink trap at the base of the air vent to .control and regulate the discharge of ink from the pen; and with these and other objects in View, the invention consists in a fountain pen of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction,

. eiiicient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The linvention is fully disclosed in the following specication, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a pen made according to my invention, part of the construction being shown p in elevation in full lines.

Y Fig. 2 is an' enlarged, sectional, detail view of part of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2;

and,

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a part'of the structure shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating a modification.

In Fig. 1 of the draw ings, 10 represents the barrel of the pen in which is contained the 1930. Serial No. `471,910.

usual compressible inner reservoir or sack 11, controlled through the usual filling bar indicated in dotted lines at 12 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The open end 13 of the sack 11 is mounted upon a tip casing 14 or a reduced 55 extension 15 at the inner end thereof. This casing is mounted in the open end of the barrel 10, and in the construction shown, said casin Vhas a tight, sliding fit with the barrel,

or ot er means of attachment may be employed.

The casing 14 is tubular in form, and the bore thereof is internally threaded as seen at 17 adjacent the outer Aend thereof and throughout substantially one half the length of said casing, to receive a plug and point supporting member 1,8, having two enlarged, internally threaded collars 19 and 20, spaced apart by a reduced portion 2l.

The 'collar 19 is arranged at the inner end 70 of the plug 18 and projecting from the collar 20 is a reduced extension 22, the end of which is beveled as seen at 23. The plug 18 is tubular in form to provide a comparatively large bore 24 therein which is reduced at 75 the lower end of said plug as seen at 24a, note Fig. 2 of the drawings. In the reduced portion 24a of the bore is mounteda tubular pen point 25, preferably having a pressed or snug fit in the bore 24a. The inner Vend of 8o the point 25 is tapered to meet a corresponding taper in the bore 24 as seen at 26 so as to guide the placement of a pin or needle valve 27 in the tubular point 25. The outer end of the point 25 is rounded as seen at 25a to 85= facilitate the free movement of the point overa, paper in the use of the pen, and the outer end of the pin 27 is correspondingly rounded as seen at 27a. The upper end of the bore 24 is enlarged as seen at 246, this 90' enlargement being arranged within the collar 19. Below the collar 19, the reduced portion 21 has an annular groove 28, and at a redetermined point, an aperture 29 opening into the bore 24 and outwardly into a cham- 95 l ber 30 formed in the casing 14 between the collars 19 and 20 and the reduced portion 21. This chamber forms an ink trap controlling the `feed of ink through the pen, and' also forms part of an `air vent controlling the tending from the lower surfacel thereof to the upper surface thereof, so as to place the chamber 30 in communication with a passage 32 arranged outwardly of the reduced extension 22 of the plug 18 and the lower end of l the casing 14. The upper end of the groove 31 terminates at a point oppositely disposed with respect to the location of the aperture 29, so as to revent any possible direct ink ilow from tllfe aperture 29 to and through the groove 31.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings, a slight modification 1n the construction of the plug 18 is shown, wherein the threaded collar 20, instead of having the spiral groove 31, is provided with an annular groove 31a arranged centrally thereof, with which two vertical grooves 31?) and 310 communicate, the groove 315 opening through the lower surface of the collar 20 at one side of said collar, whereas the groove 310 opens through the upper surface of said collar/at the opposite side thereof, so that an indirect passage equivalent to the spiral groove is provided in the collar 20. It will also be understood that the groove '310 is disposed in opposite relation with respect to the aperture 29.

The upper end of the casing 14 has a transverse wall 14a in which is formed an aperture 33, so as to place the chamber of the sack 11 in communication with the chamber 34 formed in the upper end of the casing 14, and above the collar 19, and it vis also preferred that the top of the casing 14 be provided With a transverse groove or slot 35 passing through the aperture 33 so as to encourage a direct feed of the ink through the sack 11 into the chamber 34. Movably mounted in the chamber 34, is a plunger 36 comprising a weighted body 37 of suitable heavy metal; and if lead is employed, this body is contained in atube 38 composed of rubber or similar material upon which the ink will have no chemical action. Coupled with the weight 37 centrally of the lower end thereof is a rod 39 composed 4of rubber or similar material, and this rod extends downwardly through the bore 24 and 245 of the plug 18 and to the lower end of which is attached the` pin 27, the latter being preferably composed of gold or similar metal, upon which the ink will have no chemical action. At this time, attention is directed to the fact that the diameter of the pin 27 is slightly less than the diameterlof the bore 256 in the pen point, so as to provide for the free passage of ink downwardly around the pin 27 for discharge-through the lower end of the point 25, and a comparatively large passage is formed in the bore 24 around the rod 39.

It will be noted that theweight 37 is shorter than the tube 38 so as to form a cham ber 40 around the rod 39 within the lower end of said tube,..and this chamber forms a storage reservoir for the ink when the pen is in inverted position to provide an instantaneous feed of the ink to the pen point in the initial use thereof, and also maintains a moist, atmospheric condition within the bores or passages 24, 246, 256, as well as the chamber 34, to prevent, to a large degree, the hardening of the ink in these passages.

The lower end of the tube 38 is cut out at spaced intervals to provide circumferentially spaced ink feed passages 41, wherein ink may pass through the chamber 34 into the bore 24b--24 aswill be apparent. The lower end of the tube 38, intermediate the passages 41, rests upon the upper surface of the plug 18 or the collar 419 thereof to limit the outward movement of the pin 27 with respect to the point 25, it being understood that when the' pen is held in normal position and in the operation of writing, the piu 27 normally projects through and beyond the point 25 so that in the operation o'f writing, the pin 27 is first raised by engagement with the paper against the action of the weight plunger 36 to allow for the flow of ink downwardly around the pin 27 and outwardly through the point 25.

By virtue of the rounded contour of the end of the point 25, the pen may be held in angular relation with respect to the surface over` which the pen is passed, and provided 'nol for the free flow of ink to and through the i pen point. In this operation, air is admitted into the bore 24 through the air vent 31, 31a, 31?), 310 and the aperture 29.

In using lead as the weight medium, I preferably coat the upper and lower surfaces of this body with suitable material as seen at 42 and 43, the material employed having no chemical action upon the ink used in the pen, thus preventin the lead from coming in contact with t e ink, learll having chemical action on certain inks, which has been found to be detrimental. At this time, it will be understood, however, that the entire plunger maybe made up of a material suitable or the' purpose intended, in which event, the use of the coatings and facings is unneces sary.

From the foregoing, it will 'be apparent that in the use of the pen,` the pin 27 is moved upwardly and downwardly with respect to the plug 18 and the pen point 25, and in this operation, the plunger moves off from its seat on the collar 19, providing a free ink flow into the bore 24.

After using the pen, andin moving the tained in the bore 24 will drop into the chamlao ber 40, the excess passing into the chamber` feed of ink to the pen point 25 or the passage.

255 therein.

In filling or refilling the pen, the sack l1 is compressed by the filler bar 12 as in other self-filling fountain pens, well known in the art, and the lowerend of the pen is submerged in a body of ink suiiiciently to cover the lower portion of the casing 14. As the filler bar is released, the ink will be drawn directly vintothe sack 11 through the air vent passage 31 and aperture 29,`and' thus through the bore 24-246 and chamber 34. After filling, the movement of the pen into inverted position or with the point directed upwardly, will cause any ink contained in the ink trap 30 to be fed intothe bore 24 through the aperture 29.

In the use of the pen, should a slight congestion prevail, and it is required to oscillate the pen to a slight degree to encourage ink flow, the reserve storage of ink in the chamber 40 will facilitate the instantaneous supply to tliepen point and the vertical movement ofthe plunger 36 and the pin 27 carried thereby, will operate to free the passage 122,56, permitting the discharge of ink therethrough. In the above oscillation of thev pen, to encourage the feed of ink if occasions arise requiring this operation, the arrangement of the groove 31 or the grooves 31a, 316 and 31a in the plug 18, will prevent any direct discharge of ink outwardly through the chamber 32, by virtue of the irregular, spiral or staggered arrangement of these grooves, thus obivating the diiiiculties experienced in other pens of this class employing air vents arranged longitudinally and in parallel relation with respect to the longitudinal plane of the pen.

It will be understood that while I have shown certain details of lconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, that I am not necessarily limited to these details, and various changes therein and modiicationstliereof, may be made within the scope of the appended claims, `without ,departing lfrom the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its ading therebeyond, a tubular pen point in yand projecting fromthe lowerj end of said plug, said plug forming in the y,lower end of said casing an ink trap, a passage opening outwardly through said casing around said plug, said plug being fashioned to form an indirect communication between said trap and passage and an aperture placing the upper end of said trap in communication with the bore of said plug adjacent the upper end thereof, a plunger movably disposed in said casing above said plug, a pin carried by said plunger and movably disposed in the bore of said pen point and adapted to project therethrough, and means forming a reserve ink storage in said plunger adjacent the inner end of said plug.

2. In a fountain pen of the classdescribed employing a tubular pen point and a plunger actuated pin movably disposed in said point andradapted to project therethrough, an ink reserve chamber formed in said plunger inwardly of the pen point and in vdirect cornmunication with said point to provide instantaneous flow of ink to the point when the pen is moved into writing position.

3. The combination with a fountain pen of the class described having a tubular pen point and a pin mounted in and movable longitudinally through the bore of said point, a plunger arranged' in the body of the pen and in connection with which said 4pin is mounted and by .means of which the same is movable with respect to said pen point, and means at the lower end of said` plunger forming a reserve ink storage chamber in which ink will be collected in moving the pen from a writing position tolan inverted position, and by `means of which a direct feed of ink to the pen point is provided in again moving the pen into writing position.

4. .A fountain pen of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, a tubular casing de' tachably mounted in connection with the open end of said barrel, means whereby. a flexible ink sack may be suported in connection with the inner end of said casing, a plug detachably `mounted in the lower end of said basing and projecting beyond said end, a tubular pen point mounted in connectionwith the projecting end of said plug and extending therebeyond and forming an ink feed chamber in the inner end portion of said casing, means for placing said chamber in communication with said sack, a weighted plunger in said chamber and carrying a rod extending through said plug, and a pin at the lower end of said rod and arranged in said pen point and adapted to project beyond the lower end thereof, the lower end of said plunger being tubular inform to provide a reserve ink storage chamber in direct `communication with the bore of said plug around said rod, the tubular end of said plunger resting on said plug to limit the outward movement of said pin and being apertured to place the chamber of said casing in communication with the bore of said plug.

5. A fountain. pen of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, a tubular casing detachably mounted in connection with the open end of said barrel, means whereby a liexible ink sack may be supported in connection with the inner end of said casing, a plug detachably mounted in the lower end of said casing and projecting beyond said end, a tubular pen point mounted in connection with the projecting end of said plug and extending therebeyond and forming an ink feed chamber in the inner end portion of said casing, means for placing said chamber in communication with said sacka weighted plunger in said chamber and carrying a rod extending through said plug, and a pin at the lower end of said rod and arranged in said pen point and adapted to project beyond the lower end thereof, the lower end of said plunger being tubular in form to provide a reserve ink storage chamber in direct communication. with the boreof said plug around said rod, the tubular end of said plunger resting on said plug to limit the outward movement of said pinand being apertured to place the chamber of said casing in communication with the bore of said plug, the periphery of said plug having spaced, enlarged collars fitting snugly in said casing and forming at the inner end of the plug and within said casing an ink trap, and an annular air passage opening to atmosphere at the lower end of said casing.

6. A fountain pen4 of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, a tubular casing detachably mounted in connection with the open end of said barrel, means. whereby a flexible ink sack may be supported in connection with the inner end of said casing, a plug detachably mounted in the lower end of said casing and projecting beyond said end, a tubular pen point mounted in connection with the projecting, end of said plug and extending therebeyond and forming an ink feed chamber in the inner end portion of said casing, means for placing said chamber in communication with said sack, a weighted plunger in said chamber and carrying a rod extending through said plug, and a pin at the lower end of said rod and arranged in said pen point and adapted to project beyond the lower end thereof, the lower end of said plunger being tubular inform to provide a'reserve ink storage chamber in direct communication with the bore of said plug around said rod, the tubular end of said plunger resting on Vsaid plug to limit the outward movement of said pin and being apertured to place the chamber of said casing in communication-with the v bore of said plug, the periphery of said plug having spaced,l enlargedcollars, fitting snugly in said casing and forming at the inner end of the plug and within said casing an ink trap, an annular air passage opening to atmosphere at the lower end of said casing, and one collar of said plug being grooved on its periphery in such manner as to place said ink trap and passage in communication with each other at circumferentially spaced intervals.

7. A fountain pen of the class described, comprising a pen barrel, a tubular casing detachably mounted in connection with the open end of said barrel, means whereby a flexible ink sack may be supported in connection with the inner end of said casing, a plug detachably mounted in the lower end of said casing and projecting beyond said end, a tubular pen point mounted in connection with the projecting end of said plug and eXtending therebeyond and forming an ink feed chamber in the inner end portion of said casing, means for placing said chamber in communication with said sack, a weighted plunger in said chamber and carrying a rod extending through said plug, and a pin at the lower end of said rod and arranged in said pen point and adapted to project beyond the lower endthereof, the lower end of said4 plunger heilig tubular in form to provide a reserve ink storage chamber in direct communication 'with the bore of said plug around said rod,

the tubular end of said plunger resting on said plug tolimit the outward movement of said pin and being apertured to place the chamber of said casing in communication with the bore of said plug, the periphery of said plug having spaced, enlarged collars, fitting snugly in said casing and forming at the inner end of the plug and within said casing an ink trap, an annular air passage opening to atmosphere at the lower end of said casing and one collar of said plug being grooved on its periphery in such manner a's to place said ink trap and passage in communication with each other at circumferentially spaced intervals, and means at the inner end of the ink trap for placing said trap in communication with the bore of said plug.

8.. In fountain pens of the class described, a'tubular plug body, a tubular pen point mounted in and projecting from one end of said body, and two enlarged collar portio-ns on said body inwardly of the pen point end thereof, and one of said collars having a single groove formed in the periphery thereof and opening through the upper and lower ends of said collar at" circumferentially ed and by means of which said pin is movable with respect to said pen point, said plunger having at the lower end thereof, an

ink reserve storage chamber in which ink may be supported when the point of the pen is in upright position.

. 10. In fountain pens of the class described, emplo ing a tubular pen point, a pin movably disposed in said point and adapted to project beyond the end thereof and havin means for directing the flow of ink to sai point and around said pin, a weight plunger in connection with which said pin is mounted and by means of which said pin is movable with respect to said pen point, said plunger having at the lower end thereof, an ink reserve storage chamber in which ink may be supported when the point of the pen is in upright position, and said pin being coupled with said plunger through a rod projecting from the central portion of said chamber.

11. A fountain penof the class described comprising a tip casing, a tubular plug arranged in said casing, a tubular n Ipoint supported in andproj ecting beyon the outer end of said plug, said plug having an air vent passage staggeredly disposed thereon to control the feed of ink into said plug and through said point, said passage o ening to atmosphere within said casing an into the bore of said plug adjacent the upper end thereof.

12. A fountain pen of the class described comprising a tip casing, a tubular plug arranged in said casing, a tubular penpoint supported in and projecting be ond the outer end of said plug, said plug aving an a i r vent passage staggeredly disposed thereon to control the feed of ink into said plug and through said point, said .passage opemng to atmosphere within said casing and into the bore of said plug adjacent the uplper end thereof, and a pin movably dispose in said point and normally projecting beyond the end thereof, and a weighted plunger movably disposed in saidl casing above said plug and in connection with which said pin is coupled.

13. The combination with-a fountain pen of the class described, of an ink feed comprising a tubular casing detachably coupled with one end of the barrel of a pen, means whereby an ink sack may be coupled with the inner end of said casing, a tubular plug mounted inthe outer end of said casing and projecting therebe ond, a tubular pen oint in and projecting rom the lower end o said plug, said plug having an annular groove in the periphery thereof forming between said casingand plug an ink trap, and an annular passage opening outwardly through said cascircumferentially` spaced intervals to form an indirect communication between the trap air vent opening to said trap and assage at ing around said plug, said vplug avmg an 14. The combination with a fountain pen of the class described, of an ink feed comprising a tubular casing detachably coupled with one end of the barrel of a pen, means whereby an ink sack may be coupled with the inner end of said casing, a tubular plug mounted in the outer end of said casing and projecting therebeyond, a tubular pen point inl and projecting from the lower end of said plug, said plug having an annular groove in the periphery thereofy forming between said casing and plug an ink trap, an annular passage opening outwardl through said casing around said plug, said plug having an air vent opening to said trap and passage at circumferentially spaced intervals to form an indirect communication between the trap and passage and said plug having an aperture placing the upper end of said trap in communication with the bore`of said plug, a plunger movably disposed in said casing above said plug, and a pin carried by said plunger and movably disposed in the bore of said pen point and adapted to project therethrough. l

15. In a fountain pen of the class described, a tubular plug, a tubular pen point in the free end of said plug, a plunger actuated pin movably disposed insaid point and adapted to project therethrough, the other end portion of the plughaving spaced upper and lower annular collars, and the lower collar having a spiral peripheral groove forming an indirect air vent passage opening into said plug body between said collars and to atmosmovably disposed in said point and adapted Y 1 to project therethrough, the other end portion of the plug having spaced upper and lower annular collars, the lower collar having a spiral peripheral groove forming an indirect air Vent passage opening into said pllug body between said collars and to atmosp ere below the lower collar, the plunger of said pin being adapted to no rmally seat upon the upper collar, and means for placing the exterior of the plunger in communication with the b ore of the plug when said plunger is in seated position. l

17. In a fountain pen of the class described,

a tubular plug, a tubular pen point in the'f below the lower collar, the lunger of said pin being adapted to normal y seat upon the upper collar and means for placing the exterior of the plunger in communication with Y5 the bore of the plug when said plunger is in Seated position, and an ink reserve chamber formed at the lower end of said plunger and 'in direct communication with the bore of said plug. 10 18. In a fountain pen of the class described employing a tubular pen point and a plunger actuated pin movably disposed in said point and ,adapted to project therethrough, a cas- Y ing, a tubular plug body mounted in said cas- 5 ing and in the lower end of which said point is supported, the periphery of said plug having a spiral groove forming an indirect air vent passage opening to atmosphere and into the upper end of said plu 2 19. In a fountain pen o the class described -55 day ofJuly, .1930.

em loying a tubular en point and a pl er actated pin movablyrf) disposed in saidlplbgmt and adapted to project therethrough, a casing, a tubular plug body mounted in said casing and in the lower end of which said .point is supported, the periphery of said plug having va spiral groove forming an indlrect air vent passage opening to atmosphere and into the upper end of said plug, the plun er of saidpin includin a weighted body sposed in the casing a ve said plu and norymally seating thereon to form a c amber in4 'the' casing above said plunger, and the upper end of the `casing being apertured to provide 35 for the admission of ink .into the casing around said plunger through the bore of said plug and outwardly through the pen point around the pin disposed therein.

20. In fountain ens of the class described, a tubular plug bo y, a pen point mounted in and projecting from one end of said bod and to enlarged collar portions on said b y in- `.wardlyof the pen pointtend thereof, one of said collars having a single air vent passage formed in the periphery thereof and opening through the upper and lower ends of the collar at circumferentially s aced intervals, and that portion of the plug etween said collars o forming an annular chamber having an aper,y ture placing the bore of said plug in communication with said chamber.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 25th JOSEPH WALLA" CE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,824,249. Granted September 22, 1931, to

JOSEPH WALLACE.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, line 62, claim 13, beginning with the word "circumferentially" strike out all to and including the word "an" in line 65, and insert instead passage opening outwardly through said casing around said plug, said plug having an air vent opening to said trap and passage at circumferentiallyl spaced intervals to form indirect communication between the trap; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 26th day of April, A, D. i932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

